Parnaíba Waterway will undergo expansion works starting in 2026

The state government took over management and the project includes environmental revitalization and investments of more than R$1 billion.

Work to expand the capacity of the Parnaíba River Waterway is expected to begin by the second half of 2026. The goal is to transform the river into an important logistical hub for the transportation of grain between the south and north of Piauí, connecting agricultural production to the Port of Luís Correia, on the coast.

The navigable stretch will be 924 kilometers long, beginning in Uruçuí, the state's main soybean and corn production hub, and passing through Guadalupe and Teresina before reaching the coast. The river is expected to be suitable for vessels up to 90 meters long and 16 meters wide, with a draft of 3 meters.

According to the Piauí State Government, the waterway expansion is part of a broader revitalization plan for the Parnaíba River, which includes spring restoration, reforestation, water supply and sanitation projects, dredging, rock removal, environmental education, and land regularization. The project has already been approved by the Management Committee of the Water Resources Revitalization Program for the São Francisco and Parnaíba River Basins.

"All that's missing is the publication of the resolution. With that, we'll have access to the resources needed to begin implementing the revitalization, starting with environmental initiatives," says Daniel Guimarães, director of sustainability at Porto Piauí.

To make the project viable, the Federal Government transferred responsibility for managing the navigable stretch of the Parnaíba River to the state of Piauí. The agreement was signed in July by the National Department of Transportation Infrastructure (DNIT) and the Ministry of Ports and Airports.

Investments

The R$1 billion financing will be made possible with part of the amount raised by the Union from the privatization of Eletrobras, completed in 2022. The allocation of resources to the revitalization of the basins was one of the conditions of the privatization process.

In addition to this contribution, the plan provides R$350 million for connecting the waterway to the seaport of Luís Correia, via investments from the subsidiary Porto Piauí, and another R$600 million from the private sector, responsible for implementing transfer stations along the river.

According to the state government, the proposal is to structure an intermodal transport system, connecting waterways, highways, railways and the port of Luís Correia to allow the flow of grains and minerals and the import of fuels and fertilizers.